Can Messi inspire a 5-0 comeback?

FC Barcelona Manager Tito Vilanova speaks at at a press conference ahead on their second leg UEFA Champions League clash with Bayern Munich on Wednesday May 01 2013. Barcelona are hoping to overturn a 4 goal deficit.
Video: Reuters

Barcelona – FC Barcelona will aim to pull off quite possibly the greatest comeback in Champions League history since the Manchester United comeback over Bayern Munich, when they face the Bavarians on Wednesday night in their second leg UEFA Chmapions League semifinal.

Bayern Munich produced an absolutely stunning 4-0 victory in the first leg, controlling, pressurising, and dominating a shell-shocked Barca who failed to find the back of the net.

And on Wednesday night, the Catalans have the seemingly doomed task of scoring five unanswered goals in perhaps, what could be, the greatest comeback.

Real Madrid nearly found success in their “operation 3-0” on Tuesday against Borussia Dortmund, and were unluckily one goal shy of reaching the final.

And if there’s any team that’s capable of pulling off a stunning comeback, it would have to be FC Barcelona.

The Catalans have only lost once at home in 26 matches this season, but can they score five unanswered goals? They’ve only kept two clean sheets in their last five games, but proved they can bounce back. Losing 2-0 in the first leg of the round of sixteen against AC Milan, they came back to win 4-0 in the second leg at the Nou Camp.

All the pressure will undoubtedly be on Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, who had to come on in Barca’s 2-2 draw with Athletic Bilbao in order to turn the game around for the struggling Catalans.

The gifted forward has proven his worth in big games, singlehandedly dismantling Arsenal and AC Milan in recent UEFA Champions League comebacks.

And Borussia Dortmund proved in their comeback over Malaga, anything can happen in football, a goal can be scored in seconds, and three of them can be scored in the final few minutes.

Barcelona have a mountainous task on Wednesday night, and look as if they need a miracle to produce a 5-0 win, but in their ranks they have Messi and half of the world champions.